STARTING FIVE

1. “Hibbert? Hibbert!”

He’s a simple, laconic giant who is often completely useless until he’s not. That’s Roy Hibbert of the Indiana Pacers, who after collecting zero points and zero rebounds in Game 1 versus the Wiz had 28 and 9 last night in Game 2. In three of his four previous games the seven-foot-two Hibbert had a total of zero points and two rebounds.

So what happened to awake him from his slumber last night? A violent storm? Was Bran Stark channeling a dire wolf?

2. Meet The Mess!

The New York Mess are not actually playing that poorly this season. They’re 16-17 in a division in which no one is more than three games out of first place. But they have gone 23 innings without scoring a run and their pitchers have set an MLB record for futility by going 0 for 58 hitting to begin the season (they do have six walks).

If I were Terry Collins I’d have David Wright start every road game and be the leadoff hitter, then do a double switch after one pitch with the third baseman, who is that day’s actual starter. Keep doing it until Wright leads the game off with a hit.

3. Close the Window! I Feel a Draft

Our long national nightmare is over. By this time tomorrow Johnny Football’s world of possibilities will be defined by one sad-sack franchise (Jacksonville? Cleveland?) and all the blathering will be over.

Meanwhile, still waiting on a “Way Too Early 2015 NFL Mock Draft.”

Just for fun, here’s where Peter Schrager’s mock draft (that bravely chose all 256 picks) has last season’s Heisman Trophy finalists:

 

A.J. McCarron-Webb, QB, Alabama…..2nd round, 52nd, Arizona

Jordan Lynch, QB, Northern Illinois….Not on board

Andre Williams, RB, Boston College…3rd round, 90th, Indianapolis

Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M…….3rd pick overall, Jacksonville

Tre Mason, RB, Auburn……..3rd round, 83rd, Cleveland

4. The Curious Career of Lara Logan

With that South African accent and those runway model features, Lara Logan seemed destined for stardom as an international news correspondent. And in many ways, she is. Logan was like a real-life version of Michelle Pfeiffer in that awful film with Robert Redford, with the exception that she also had the brains.

But it’s been a bumpy ride the past few years, as a fascinating New York Magazine article attests.

5. Edward Christl

I’m a few days late on this, but since it is V-E Day, I think it fits. The basketball arena at West Point is named Christl Arena in honor of 1st Lieutenant Edward Christl. In 1944 Christl captained the Cadet basketball team that went 15-0 but chose not to play in the NCAA tournament–Army has still never been to the NCAAs.

One year later, on May 4, 1945, just four days before the end of the war –and four days after Adolf Hitler killed himself- Christl was killed in action in Austria. He was one of the last Americans who died in Europe during World War II.

The Hall

Charter Inductees: Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner 1937:  Tris Speaker, CF; Cy Young, P ; 1938: Grover Cleveland Alexander, P; Eddie Collins, 2B 1939:Nap Lajoie, 2B; Joe Jackson, LF; 1940: Billy Hamilton, OF; Cap Anson, 1B; 1941: Wee Willie Keeler, RF; George Sisler, 1B; 1942: Rogers Hornsby, 2B; Pie Traynor, 3B; 1943: Mickey Cochrane, C; Frankie Frisch, 2B 1944: Ed Walsh, P; Old Hoss Radbourn, P 1945: Lou Gehrig, 1B; Kid Nichols, P 1946: Ed Delahanty, LF; Lefty O’Doul 1947: Pud Galvin, P; John McGraw, INF 1948: Carl Hubbell, P; Addie Joss, P 1949: Harry Heilman, OF/1B; Monte Ward, P/SS 1950: Cool Papa Bell, CF; Jimmie Foxx, 1B 1951: Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown, P; Josh Gibson, C 1952: Paul Waner, RF; Charlie Gehringer, 2B 1953: Mel Ott, RF; Hank Greenberg, 1B 1954: Eddie Plank, P; Dan Brouthers, 1B 1955: “Wahoo” Sam Crawford, OF; John Clarkson, P 1956: Chief Bender, P; Bill Dickey, C 1957: Sam Rice, RF; Joe DiMaggio, CF 1958: Bill Terry, 1B; Heinie Manush, LF 1959: Dizzy Dean, P; Tim Keefe, P 1960: Gabby Hartnett, C; Mickey Welch, P 1961: Bob Feller, P; Ducky Medwick, LF 1962: Luke Appling, SS; Jesse Burkett, LF 1963 Jackie Robinson, 2B; Zack Wheat, LF 1964: Jake Beckley, 1B; Rube Waddell, P 1965: Ralph Kiner, 1B; Lefty Grove, P

1966: Ted Williams, LF; Smoky Joe Wood, P/OF 1967: Roy Campanella, C; Max Carey, OF 1968: Goose Goslin, LF; Rabbit Maranville, SS 1969: Stan Musial, 1B/OF 1970: Ferris Fain, 1B; Earle Combs, CF 1971: Warren Spahn, P; Yogi Berra, C 1972 Satchel Paige, P; Sandy Koufax, P 1973: Robin Roberts, P; Whitey Ford, P 1974: Mickey Mantle, CF; Eddie Mathews, 3B 1975: Lefty Gomez, P; Hack Wilson, CF 1976: Jack Pfiester, P; Johnny Mize, 1B 1977: Ernie Banks, SS; Mickey Welch, P 1978: Roberto Clemente, RF; Chuck Klein, RF 1979: Willie Mays, CF; Luis Aparicio,  SS 1980: Al Kaline, RF; Enos Slaughter, RF 1981: Bob Gibson, P; Harmon Killebrew, 1B 1982: Hank Aaron, RF; Frank Robinson, OF 1983: Brooks Robinson, 3B, Juan Marichal, P 1984: Hoyt Wilhelm, P; Arky Vaughan, SS 1985: Lou Brock, LF; Pete Browning, OF 1986: Sidd Finch, P 1987: Willie McCovey, 1B, Roger Maris, RF 1988: Willie Stargell, 1B, Catfish Hunter, P 1989: Earl Averill, CF, Billy Williams, LF 1990: Johnny Bench, C, Carl Yastrzemski, LF 1991: Jim Palmer, P, Joe Morgan, 2B 1992: Rod Carew, 2B; Gaylord Perry, P 1993: Reggie Jackson, RF, Tom Seaver, P 1994: Phil Niekro, P, Rollie Fingers, P 1995: Pete Rose, INF, Mike Schmidt, 3B 1996: Steve Carlton, P, Denny McLain, P 1997: Jim Rice, LF, Don Sutton, P 1998: Dick Allen, 1B, Dave Parker, RF 1999: Nolan Ryan, P, George Brett, 3B 2000: Robin Yount, SS, Carlton Fisk, C 2001: Kirby Puckett, CF, Mark Fidrych, P 2002: Ozzie Smith, SS, Gary Carter, C 2003: Eddie Murray, 1B, Tommy John (Surgery) 2004: Paul Molitor, INF, Dennis Eckersley, P 2005: Wade Boggs, 3B, Ryne Sandberg, 2B 2006: Hughie Jennings, SS, Herman Long, SS 2007: Cal Ripken, Jr, SS, Tony Gwynn, RF 2008: Tanner Boyle, SS, Crash Davis, C 2009: Rickey Henderson, LF, Duke Snider, CF 2010: Lee Smith, P, Garry Maddox, CF 2011: Roberto Alomar, 2B, Dave Winfield, LF

2012

Barry Larkin, SS; 1986-2004, Reds

Here’s my problem. Yes, Larkin is a 12-time All-Star, but as iconic Reds infielders go, am I really putting him in above Dave Concepcion and Tony Perez? The 1995 NL MVP was a .295 career hitter. Beloved in the Queen City, but I never heard anyone say they just had to see Barry Larkin play.\

Johnny Vander Meer, P; 1937-1951, Reds

Now this is the kind of player I want in our Hall of Fame. Van Der Meer, not an actual HOFer, is the only man in Major League history to pitch no-hitters in consecutive games. A few interesting notes: 1) both no-hitters were pitched in June of his rookie season and on just three days’ rest 2) the first victim was the Boston Bees ,who had been and would later again be known as the Braves and 3) the second victim was the Brooklyn Dodgers, in what was the first night game at Ebbets Field. Though a career sub-.500 pitcher (119-121), Vander Meer did lead the N.L. in strikeouts three consecutive seasons (1941-1943).

If you’re willing to scroll down some, there’s some excellent tid-bittery about the two no-hitters in this blog.

Remote Patrol

NFL Draft

ESPN 8 p.m.

Possibly your first sighting of Chris Berman since February. Gird yourselves. By the way, Boomer’s dad fought at D-Day (this is true), which brings back the whole V-E Day/Draft Day in New York City connection. p.s. I love Johnny Football, but I wouldn’t take him. He’ll spend half his career injured.